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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 25, 2025 Page 3 1 This Public Safety Facility option is dependent on two primary factors: (1) the feasibility of 2 constructing an expanded facility adjacent to the existing fire station, and (2) the ability of the 3 City to secure as much outside funding as possible, and supplement with city bonding at an 4 amount that will not put additional, undue pressure on the annual tax levy. As reflected in the 5 City's 2025 Strategic Plan, efforts will be made this year to determine if a Public Safety Facility 6 approach is feasible both logistically and financially. 7 8 To determine the answer on both of those factors, third -party expertise is needed. Staff has been 9 working on preliminary steps to secure the expertise, and proposals are included for Council's 10 review and approval of the approach proposed. 11 12 The City worked with Oertel Architects in 2024 to discuss the Police Department facility while 13 the Falcon Heights partnership renewal discussions were taking place to assess the impact and 14 options at the Community Center facility. Subsequent discussions have focused on the concept of 15 the Public Safety Facility and the plan to seek outside funding. 16 17 In order to determine if outside funding will be available, the City needs to get the facility 18 concept to a "predesign" status which is enough design to demonstrate the project has legitimate 19 support and is achievable, while leaving many details and specifics to be determined at a 20 subsequent phase, once adequacy of funding is determined. 21 22 Those deliverables are described in the proposal from Oertel Architects and consist of four 23 primary elements: 24 • Spreadsheet showing space needs and relation to existing spaces. 25 • Test fits showing remodel and addition options. 26 • Early phase opinion of cost. 27 • Presentation graphics as needed. 28 29 The proposed cost for this predesign phase is $15,150. 30 31 The City does not have the financial resources to fund a new facility exclusively through its 32 annual tax levy, and outside support will be required. The City has a long history of seeking 33 grant funding, but does not have an extensive history in seeking and securing this particular type 34 and scope of funding, and third -party expertise will be needed in order to fully explore the 35 options and craft a compelling case for financial support. 36 37 Staff has met with Fox Advancement on two occasions to discuss this project and craft a scope 38 of work to assist. Fox Advancement has provided a proposal to assist that covers four primary 39 objectives with additional details in their proposal: 40 • Identify and Prioritize Public Grant Opportunities. 41 • Develop a Strategic Grant Application Plan. 42 • Explore Public -Private Partnerships and Philanthropic Funding. 43 • Final Report and Recommendations. 44 45 The proposed cost for this work is proposed at hourly rates detailed in the proposal, with an 46 overall scope expected to be approximately $8,000 - $9,000.